Research

RDEB is a rare inherited skin disorder characterized by mutation in the basement membrane associated protein, type VII collagen. RDEB patients are predisposed to developing aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) resulting in a 90% mortality rate by the age of 55. There are no targeted therapies available for RDEB cSCC patients and surgical intervention, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have not proved successful. Current research involves elucidating the role of TGF? in RDEB disease progression in Dr Gareth J Inman lab.